It's Severe Weather Awareness Week here in Wisconsin, so here are a few facts about severe storms, and tips for dealing with them.
1. Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms and can strike 10 miles from the storm, even where the sky is clear. Lightning strikes the Earth 20 million times each year, and there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress at any given time on Earth.
2. Lightning causes an average of 80 fatalities and 300 injuries each year. Tornadoes cause 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries nationwide.
3. The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than three months. Imagine what that amount of voltage can do to your electronics. This is why you should unplug appliances and stay off the phone during a severe thunderstorm.
4. A WATCH means that conditions are right for a severe thunderstorm or tornado to develop; a WARNING means that lightning or a funnel has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a cell likely to produce severe storms.
5. Closing blinds or curtains when a watch is issued can minimize shattered glass from flying debris in the event that a severe storm does develop. Stay away from glass-enclosed areas during a tornado warning, or places such as auditoriums or warehouses with wide-span roofs.
6. When a tornado warning is issued, you should immediately go to a basement, or to an interior room away from outside walls on the lowest level, such as a closet or bathroom. Keep a flashlight and battery-powered radio handy for such emergencies.
7. Most deaths during tornadoes occur in cars and mobile homes—abandon them immediately and seek shelter in a secure building. Avoid overpasses or ditches if possible as they provide little protection against a twister.
8. If there is nowhere else to go during a tornado, lie flat in a ditch or depression away from buildings, and cover your head to protect it from falling debris.
9. Unlike tornadoes, if caught outside during a severe thunderstorm you should squat and protect your head; do not lie flat as that will make you a larger target. If you are on water, get to land immediately as water is a natural conduit. If you are in the woods, seek shelter under shorter trees as lightning is more likely to strike taller ones. Low-lying areas away from water, trees, and metal are safest.
10. Tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, but are found most frequently in the United States, with more than 1000 reported annually. Canada is a distant second with 100 tornadoes annually. Wisconsin has an average 25 tornadoes a year. There were 17 in 2007, 13 in 2006 and 62 in 2005. One of the scariest events was the
tornado outbreak of Aug 18, 2005, when 27
confirmed tornadoes swept across Southern Wisconsin in one evening. I blogged about that
here.
11. Tornadoes can produce winds in excess of 250 mph. They can be more than a mile wide and stay on the ground for more than 50 miles. Most twisters occur between 3 and 9 p.m., but can happen at any time and, though they can move in any direction, generally move southwest to northeast.
12. Contrary to popular belief, areas near lakes, rivers and mountains are just as likely to experience tornadoes as flat, open spaces.
Waterspouts are tornadoes which form over warm water.
13.
Signs of a Tornado: Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base; whirling dust or debris on the ground close to cloud base; hail or heavy rain followed by a dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift; loud, continuous roar or rumble.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens:
Nina Pierce * Kaige * Adelle Laudan
Tempest Knight * RG Alexander * Shelley Munro
Alice Audrey * Jennifer McKenzie * Darla
Ms Menozzi * December * Debora Dennis
Robin Rotham * Jenna Bayley-Burke * Morgan St John
Gina Ardito * Imogen Howson * Debbie Mumford
AJ Chase * Paige Tyler * Dana Belfry
Chloe Devlin * Leigh Ellwood * Savannah Chase
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!